Stay-feeding mechanism for wire-fence machines



April 8, 1924;

J. B. GETZ ET AL STAY FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WIRE FENCE MACHINES Filed Feb. 18 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE/V TOR-5 April 8 1924;

I J. B. GETZ ET AL FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WIRE FENCE MACHINES STAY Filed Feb. 18 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VE TO/PS April 8, 1924.

1,489,884 J. B. GETZ ET AL STAY FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WIRE FENCE MACHINES Filed Feb. 18. 1920.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 8 1924.-

J. B. GETZ ET AL STAY FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WIRE FENCE MACHINES I Filed Feb. 18 1920 4 Shee ts-Sheet 4 .llll .ll llllllllllllll Patented Apr. 8, 1924.

I UNHTEQ STATES F A TENT ZUFF C JOHN B. oarz AND 'rrroiues LITWVILLER, or 'iaonirom'rnninors, essionon To INTER- LOCKING rnivcn 00., or MORTON, ILLINOIS, A CORIEORATION onrLLInoIs.

STAY-FEEDING- MECHANISM FOR Winn-FENC MACHINES.

Application filed February 18, 1920. set-arm. 359,677.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, JOHN B. Gnrz and THOMAS LrrwILLnn, citizens of the-United States, residents of Morton, in the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stay-Feeding Mechanism for VVire-Fence Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to stay-feeding mechanism for wire fence machines,

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a feeding mechanism which will feed practically simultaneously, a plurality of stay-feed-wires, from which stays are severed and deposited in position for securement to a plurality of line wires of a fence fabric. The stays being successively severed, first from one stay-feed-wire, then the other, the result being'to feed the stayfeed-wires comparatively slowly, yet surely; being desirable in all fence machines, but particularly in high speed machines, the rotary type machine being a good example.

The invention has for a further Object, to provide new and improved feeding and timing means forthe several stay-feed wires, to insure proper feeding of the wires from which the stays may be severed,-and to a new and improved means for delivery ofthe fed stay-feed-wires to discharging position, whereby the stays may be timely severed and deposited for securement to the line wires of the fence fabric.

The invention has for a further object to provide a magazine for the reception of the fed stay-feed-wires, and means for alternately rocking the said magazine first to the left, then to the right, or vice versa, for delivery of the said wires to a position of discharge where the stays are severed from said stay-feed Wires and orcibly removed from said magazine. 7

That the invention may be 'more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the description, showing a preferrcd embodiment of our invention, wherein Figure l is a plan view of our improved stay feeding mechanism; 1

Figure 2 is a front el ,vation of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is vertical cross-section, as the same would appear, if taken on the line 33 Figure 1;

luble support carrying the cutters for the stay wires and also the discharging means therefor;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the magazine, as the same would appear, if taken on the line 9-9 Figure 12, also showing in dotted lines the revoluble support carrying-the cutters "forthe stay wires and also the discharging means therefor;

Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 are sectional end views of the magazine, Withparts in dotted lines, illustrating the successive steps in the Operation of "feeding the stay-feedwires, oscillating or rocking the magazine, severing the staysfrom the -stay-feed-w1re anddis'charging the severedstays from said magazine.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding iparts throughout the figures.

Tn the drawings, we, have-confined the disclosure "to the stay-feeding mechanism and supporting frame'therefor, also showing in dotted lines the means,-or a party thereof, for severingthe stay wiresfrom the stay-feedwires and discharging the same from the magazine, omitting the fence machine proper, including the line wire feeding means and stay wire connecting means, as these form no part of the present invention; and

iwhil'ithe invention is peculiarly adapted for association with rotary fence machines, it may be used generally in connection with wire feeding niechanisms, and be used for other purposes in the wire workingart.

The frame worlrfor supporting the working parts of the mechanism, may include the standards land the longitudinal and transverse frames '2 and 3.

The stay -w1re feeding means includes duplicate pairs of transversely dispos d feeding shafts i and 5, the respective shafts of each set lying normally in the same hori- V zontal plane, in spaced relation, function alike and are associated with corresponding driving and driven means, to be described. Each set of feeding shafts act on different stay-feed-wires which are preferably fed in parallel relation, and the wire feeding members have a timed relation relatively to each other, which will insure the accurate feeding of the stay-feed-wires, severing of the stays and their discharge for securement to the line wires of the fabric. As the two sets of feeding devices are substantial duplicates, it is thought that the description of one set will suflice for both. The shaft 4 is-journaled at its inner end in a bearing 6, in which the inner end of the shaft 5 is also journa-led, as a bearing for alongitudinally disposed counter shaft 7. The shaft 7 derives its power from a driving shaft, not shown, and through a gear wheel 8 on the driving shaft, meshing with a gear wheel 9 on said counter shaft. The counter shaft 7 has secured thereto, a, bevel gear wheel 10 in mesh with a bevel pinion 11 on the feeding shaft 4. The shaft 4 at itsforward end, is journaled in a bearing on the underside of the frame part 2, whereas the forward end of the shaft 5 is journaled in the outer end of a movable arm 12, fulcrumed on the frame part 2 at 13. It will appear therefore, that the outer end of the feeding shaft 5 is movable relatively to the outer end of the feeding shaft 4, and preferably in a vertical plane. The shaft is raised against the action of a spring 12 which immediately acts to again lower the same by pressure on the outer rnd of the arm 12. Said spring bearing between the arm and a plate 13 held in place by a rod 2 connected to the frame 2, see Figure 2.

The feeding shaft 5 is driven from the feeding shaft 4 through intermeshing spur gear wheels 14 and 15 secured to the shafts 4 and 5, respectively. To the outer end of each shaft-4 and 5, is connected a feeding wheel 16, in all respects duplicates of each other. One point worthy of mention is that the feeding wheels on one set of feeding shafts 4 and 5 is not in the same vertical plane with the feeding wheels on the other set of feeding shafts 4 and 5, as best seen in Figures 1 and 3, whereby to permit. the practical simultaneous feeding of parallel stay-feed-wires.

The feeding wheel 16 comprises the disk 17 having a slanting or beveled periphery 18 and a ring 19 formed with a preferably fiat external wire engaging periphery 20, and oppositely beveled or tapering annular inner surfaces 21.. Providing the ring 19 with the inner oppositely beveled surfaces 21, makes it possible to reverse the position of the ring 19 on the disk 17 so as to present new wearing surfaces 20 to the wire engaged by the periphery 20, as the respective surfaces 21 wear, before it is necessary to replace a ring 19. The surfaces 21 conform to the surface 18 of the disk so that as the ring 19 is slipped on to the disk, a wedging relation is set up between the two parts, see Figure 7, and to securely hold the ring 19 on the disk 17, we provide the bearing plates 22 held by bolts 23, said plates engaging the disk and ring, in manner best seen in Figures 1 and 7.

There is loosely carried on tl e feeding shaft 4, a large gear wheel 24 and said wheel meshes with and is driven by a small pinion 25, keyed or otherwise secured to the feeding shaft 5. Also secured to the feeding shaft 5 in front of the pinion 25, is disk 26, which in diameter is preferably the same as the pitch diameter of the pinion 25. This disk 26 has an intermittent coacting relation with means adjustable on the gear wheel 24, whereby to separate the coacting rings of each set of feeding wheels. The gear wheel 24 is provided with a forwardly or laterally projecting annular ring or flange 27, the front face of which is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 28. These openings are interiorly threaded to receive a bolt 29 which secures in place a plate 30, which frictionally holds a plate 31 which in turn, bears against a similar plate 32 and also against a spacing plate 33. All three plates 31, 32 and 33 are carried on the peripheral face of the ring or flange 27. The plates 31 and 32 preferably overlap, see Figures 5 and (3, and their peripheral surfaces lie in the same plane, not quite flush with the peripheral surfaces of the teeth on the gear wheel 24. At least the plates 31 and 32 have a depth, see Figure 5 which is si'uiicient, when the disk 26 rolls into engagement therewith, to cause a slight upward movement of the shaft 5 and a slight separation of the feeding rings 19 of the feeding wheels 16. By loosening the bolt 29, the plate 31 may be moved concentrically relatively to the plate 32 for the purpose of lengthening or shortening the period of rolling contact between the disk 26 and said plates 31and 32, and in this way regulate the period of inactivity of the feeding wheels 16 'on the stay-feed-wire. Through the arrangement of the holes or perforations 28 in the flange or ring 27 of the gear wheel 24, the plate 30 may be placed in a plurality of different radial positions on the gear wheel 24, permitting the adjustment of the plates 31, 32 and 33 on the gear wheel 24, so as to regulate the point of feeding by the feeding wheels 16 and the period of their inactivity on the stay-feed-wire.

It is to be assumed that the set of feeding devices at the extreme left in Figure 2, are in substantially the same position they are shown in, in Figure 5. Then by reference to the set of feeding devices at the right in Figure 2, it is apparent that they assume a position which wouldtbe approximatelydiametrically oppositethe first set of said'feeding devices. This, as will become clear, is forthe purpose of the parallel feeding of a pair of stay-feed-wires and the alternate and successive severing therefrom .of the staywires and their discharge for securementto the line wires of the fabric.

By reference to Figures 1 and 2,.duplicate straightening devices 34 are shown, common in feeding devices ofthis character, and duplicate guiding tubes 35 are shown to receive and guide the stay-feed wires A to a magazine now to 'be described.

The magazine is designated 35 and is preferably a cylindrical body formed with a pair of spaced longitudinally arranged wire receiving grooves 36, opening out of the periphery of said magazine body for approximately the length of said magazine. The receiving end of said magazine has reduced neck 37 keyed or otherwise suitably secured'to a rocking head 38, having a bearing in'aframe part 39. The head 38 is formed with a radially disposed'plate extension 40 having the func- 'tion of a crank arm, which is-pivotally con 'nected at 41 with theouter end of a reach or pitman bar 42. Said head 38 is further provided with a pair of spaced longtudinally arranged openings 43 in which are'preferably carried bushings 44having wire openings 45, which, as the head is rocked alternately in opposite directions remain in coincidence with the Wire receiving grooves 36 in the magazine. The tubes 35 enter the openings 43 in the head 38 to provide a continuous passage for the stay-feed-wires into the magazine. At suitable points, the magazine 35 is provided with an annular groove or recess 46 in whichenters lugs B on a revolu'ble support C. The lugs 'B engage withthe wires A to forcibly discharge or remove thesame from the magazine, after stays have been severed from the stay-feed-wires by cutters secured to an end of the revoluble support 0 see Figure 9. \Ve also prefer to surround the main body of the magazine 35 with a shield or cover '47, which of course, as will be understood, iscut away'where the grooves or recesses 46 occur in the magazine'to permit the entrance of the lugs B into said grooves or recesses to engage with the wires A.

The reach orpitman bar-42 has connected thereto, a roller 48- operating in a cam groove 49 in a cam wheel 50, which is connected' with a shaft 51 actuated by means of a gear wheel 52 which may be operated by a gear wheel 53, carried on the same driving shaft operating the gear wheel 8, or derive its motion in any suitable manner from any other source. The construction of the cam groove 49 in the cam wheel is such, that during a quarter revolution of the cam wheel the reach or pitman bar 42 will be rement with the stay wire, to dislodge it from "the magazine onto the support C, first of art.

-ciprocated to oscillate or rock the magazine 35 fromthe position shown inFigure .10 to .the position shown in Figure 13 and back again, to the position shown in Figure 10. During this movement, a stay wire 18 severed and discharged in Figure 10, parallel stay- .feed-wlres are being fed into the grooves 36 in the magazine 35 a stay wire is severed and discharged in Figure 13, the process of tinued, first rocking the magazine in one direction, then in the opposite direction, and each time a groove 36 in the magazine is approx mately in axial alignment :with a line passing vertically through the axis of the magazine 35 the support C has moved to a position bringing the lugs B into engagecourse, having been severed by the knife from the stay-feed-wire. By'reference to Figs. 4, and 10 to 13,.both inclusive, when the roller 49 reaches a point a in the cam wheel, the grooves36 in the magazine are as'they are shown in Figure '10, when a' stay has been severed and isdischarged 'fromthe magazine. a As the roller 48 traverses through the cam groove'49, at .the'point b,

the grooves 36 move from the position SllOWlllll Figure 10 toitheposition shown in Figure 11, and are held inlthe latter position during the time'the'point c in the cam wheel passes by the roller, and duringthis time, 7 the stay feeding is completed, and as the roller 48 .moves into the seat d in the cam groove,"the. stay is in a'position to besevered and discharged from the magazine, as shown in Figure 13. The cam wheel continues in its rotation, in the direction of the arrow, shown inFigure 4, which will return'the magazine "from the position shown in Figurei13-to that position shown in ure 10, and by the time it has made a full quarter revolution, the pointa atthe' left in the cam wheel, Figure 4, which is'shown approximately diametrically opposite'the roller "48 has'be'en rotated to a point of engagement with the roller 48. In oth r words, the cam has made one-half revolution and the'points a, a, Figure 4, will become transposed. In

each of the Figures 10 to 13, both inclu- It should be apparent fromthe foregoing description, taken in connection with the' drawings, that the feeding Wheels are alternately inactive for a short period, which inactivity occurs momentarily, or at about the time the magazine reaches a position shown in Figure 10 and Figure 13, thus to provide for the severance of the stay wires from the stay-feed-wires and their discharge from the magazine. It should also be obvious that with the method ofv feeding disclosed, the speed of feeding may be comparatively slow, and momentarily holding the magazine in its oscillation, gives plenty of time forthe feeding of complete stays, their severance and discharge from the magazine.

What we claim is':

1. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a rockable magazine, means to feed a pair of. stay-feed-wires to said magazine,

means to sever stay wires from said feed- Wires alternately, and means to discharge the severed stay wires from said magazine.

2. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a rockable magazine, means to alternately rock said magazine in opposite directions, means to feed a pair of stay-feedwires to said magazine, means to sever stay wires from said feed-wires alternately, and means to discharge the severed stay wires from said magazine.

3. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a roekable magazine, means to alternately rock said magazine in opposite directions, said rocking means arranged to hold said magazine momentarily inactive during each movement, means to feed a pair of stay-feed-wires to said magazine, means to sever stay wires from said feed-wires alternately, and means to discharge the severed stay wires from said magazine.

4. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a rockable magazine provided with a plurality of Wire receiving grooves, means to rock said magazine alternately in opposite directions, means to feed 'stay-feed-wires into the grooves of said magazine, means to alternatelystop the feeding movement of said wires, means to sever stay wires from said feed wires alternately, and means to discharge the severed stay wires from said magazine 5. In a wire feedingmechanism, in combination, a plurality of stay-feed-wire feeding means, means for intermittently and alternately stopping the feeding movement of said wires, means to receive the feed wires, and means to sever stay wires from said feed wires alternately.

6. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a plurality of stay-feed-wire feeding means, means for intermittently and alternately stopping the feeding movement of said wires, a magazine to receive said feed wires, means to alternately rock said magazine in opposite directions, means to sever stay Wires from said feed Wires, and meansto discharge the severed wires from said magazine.

7. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, separate stay-feed-wire feeding means to feed a pair of parallel stay-feedwires, a rockable magazine to receive said wires, a cam wheel and connections between said wheel and magazine, for alternately rocking said magazine in opposite directions, means for intermittently and alternately stopping the feeding movement of said wires, means to sever stay wires from said feed wires, and means to discharge the sevcred stay wires from said magazine.

8. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a magazine having a pair of wire receiving grooves and a reduced neck portion, a rockable head connected to said neck portion, and having openings aligning with said wire receiving grooves, a bushing for each opening, means connected with said head for rocking it and the magazine alternately in opposite directions, a pair of wire guides for leading stay-feed-wires to the bushings in said head, means for feeding stay-feed-wires through said guides, means for intermittently and alternately stopping the feeding movement of said wires, means for severing stay wires from said feed wires, and means to discharge the severed stay wires from said magazine.

9. In a wire feeding mechanism, in com bination, two sets of wire feeding wheels, off-set with respect to each other in different vertical planes, and means for intermittently and alternately causing said sets of wheels to assume non-Wire engaging positions.

10. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, two sets of wire feeding wheels, one wheel of each set movable toward and from its companion wheel, means for driving said wheels, and means for intermittently and alternately moving said movable wheels to non-wire engaging position.

11. In a Wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a pair of feeding shafts, means for actuating one shaft, driving connections between said shafts, coacting feed wheels on said shafts, and means on said shafts engageable intermittently for moving one of said feed wheels out of coacting relation with the other wheel.

' 12. In a wire feeding mechanisn in combination, a pair of feeding shafts, means for actuating'one shaft, gearing connecting said shafts, coacting feed wheels on said shafts, and means on said shafts engageable intermittently for moving one of said feed wheels out of coacting relation, with the other wheel, one of such engageable means being adjustable whereby to change the time of coaction of said feed wheels.

13. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a feed wheel comprising a disk having a tapered periphery, a ring having opposite internally arranged tapered surfaces corresponding to the tapered periphcry of said disk, to permit the ring to be reversely connected with said disk, and retaining means for said ring.

14. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a feed wheel comprising a disk having a tapered periphery, a ring having opposite internally arranged tapered surfaces corresponding to the tapered periphery of said disk, to permit the ring to be reversely connected with said disk, a plurality of plates engaging the disk and ring to hold them in assembled relation, and means to secure the plates to the disk.

15. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a pair of feeding shafts, coacting wire engaging and feeding wheels on said shafts, means to move one of said shafts and its feeding wheel to non-wire engaging relation with said other wheel, comprising a disk on one shaft and a member on the other shaft having an intermittent engagement with said disk during the rotation of said shafts.

16. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a driving and a driven feeding shaft, coacting feed wheels on said shafts, a pinion fixed on one shaft, a gear wheel loose on the other shaft in mesh with said pinion, a disk on the shaft having the pinion, and means on said gear wheels adapted to contact with said disk for intermittently moving the disk carrying shaft so as to prevent coaction between said feeding wheels.

17. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a driving and a driven feeding shaft, coacting feed wheels on said shafts, a pinion fixed on one shaft, a gear wheel looose on the other shaft in mesh with said pinion, a disk on the shaft having the pinion, means adjustable concentrically on said gear wheel and adapted to contact with said disk for intermittently moving the disk carrying shaft so as to prevent coaction between said feeding wheels.

18. In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, a driving and driven feeding shaft, coacting feed wheels on said shafts, a pinion fixed on one shaft, a gear wheel. loose on the other shaft in mesh with said pinion, a disk on the shaft having the pinion, plates on said gear wheels arranged to contact with said disk for intermittently moving the disk carrying shaft so as to prevent coaction between said feeding wheels, said plates moving relatively to each other to shorten or lengthen the period of contact with said disk, and means for holding said plates on said gear wheel.

19; In a wire feeding mechanism, in combination, two sets of feeding wheels arranged to feed a pair of parallel arranged stay-feed-wires, means for actuating said feeding wheels, means for intermittently and alternately stopping the feeding move- 7 ment of said wires, a magazine to receive said wires, wire guidlng means between the feeding wheels and sald magazine, a cam wheel, means operated by the cam wheel for alternately rocking said magazine in opposite directions, means for severing stay wires from stay-feed-wires, and means for discharging said stay wires from said magazine.

In witness whereof we have hereunto affixed our hands this 29th day of January,

JOHN B. GETZ. THOMAS LITWILLER. 

